Active Minds

Position Title: Chief Marketing Officer 

Location: Flexible (Washington, DC preferred; Hybrid or Fully Remote)

Compensation: Starting range is $140,000 - $175,000

ABOUT ACTIVE MINDS 

Active Minds is the largest nonprofit in the United States mobilizing youth and young adults to transform mental health norms across society. For more than 20 years, we have equipped the next generation of peer mental health advocates through a variety of programs, including the Active Minds Chapter Network, A.S.K., and Send Silence Packing. Our advocacy, initiatives, and campaigns foster lasting change in how youth view and discuss mental health, encouraging them to use their voices to influence broader conversations and inform mental health supports within their communities. Together, we are building a diverse movement of champions committed to improving mental health for all.

JOB SUMMARY & KEY PRIORITIES

Active Minds is seeking a Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) to ignite a movement of mental health champions, mobilizing youth and young adults to reshape societal views on mental health. The CMO will define and execute a comprehensive, integrated marketing and communications vision and strategy across multiple platforms, amplifying the organization’s external positioning and presence and ensuring our brand and vital information resonate powerfully and consistently with all stakeholders. This role is paramount in mobilizing youth as catalysts for profound systemic change, crafting messages that deeply connect with diverse audiences, including youth and young adults, donors, partners, and policymakers. 

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer and working closely with the Executive Director, the CMO will be responsible for building, leading, and mentoring a talented, multidisciplinary MarComm team of 10 members, providing strategic and tactical direction for marketing, branding, social and digital content, public relations, events, and overall communications. As a vital member of the Executive and Leadership Teams, this leader will ensure effective cross-departmental collaboration with the Programs and Development teams and work regularly with Senior Leadership and other staff to uphold the Active Minds mission and brand. 

The ideal candidate brings visionary strategic thinking, creativity, dynamic leadership, and an entrepreneurial spirit, coupled with movement-building expertise and a data-driven approach. They are a transformative leader who fosters collaboration, acts as a problem solver, and models accountability in achieving measurable impact. This role requires strong relationship-building skills across diverse stakeholders and an unwavering commitment to centering equity in all aspects of the work. The CMO will set and lead the vision for the department with clarity, empowering and coaching their team, and demonstrating a fundamental commitment to positioning young people as experts on their own experiences and as primary drivers of change.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Marketing and Communication Strategy

• Lead and manage the development and implementation of integrated marketing and communications strategies that center equity and intentionally engage BIPOC and LGBTQ+ youth and young adults, in collaboration with the Executive Team, while fostering cross-departmental and cross-organizational understanding.
• Set and lead comprehensive, data-driven marketing goals, objectives, and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) in alignment with the organization’s strategic plan.
• Drive the use of data and measurement frameworks, collaborating with the Chief Program Officer and Measurement Team, to rigorously track brand strength, campaign efficacy, and movement-building progress.
• Prioritize strategies to reach underserved populations and ensure marginalized groups have access to Active Minds’ resources and information to address health equity disparities.
• Direct all digital marketing, social media strategy, and advertising efforts, emphasizing tactics that mobilize youth and young adults for efficient message delivery across all platforms.
• Participate in the annual budget development process and oversee the marketing and external affairs budget, ensuring a high level of fiscal responsibility.
• Serve as a strategic partner to the Chief Development Officer to develop compelling offerings for funded partnerships, including cause marketing, corporate, and strategic funding partnerships.

Team Leadership and Development

• Directly supervise, coach, and mentor the marketing and communications team of 10, cultivating a high-performing, collaborative, innovative, and accountable culture that aligns with Active Minds’ strategic priorities, mission, and audience demands.
• Strengthen team capabilities, processes, and resources to meet the organization's marketing needs and achieve its goals efficiently and effectively.
• Drive seamless cross-functional collaboration and communication across all departments.
• Invest in team development, championing opportunities for professional growth, technical excellence, and strategic alignment.
• Ensure rigorous adherence to organizational policies, legal requirements, and best practices in all external activities.

Brand Management & Messaging

• Define, safeguard, and champion the Active Minds brand identity, voice, and positioning across all channels.
• Develop culturally responsive external messaging and campaigns that align with mobilization goals and resonate with Active Minds’ target audiences, including historically marginalized populations.
• Oversee content creation strategy, high-level messaging development, and media relations to drive engagement and position Active Minds as the leading voice in youth mental health advocacy and mobilization.
• Craft compelling core messaging that inspires action and broadcasts the mission to raise awareness on both local and national levels.
• Lead crisis communications, monitoring current events to identify opportunities for Active Minds to issue proactive or reactive public statements aligned with organizational policy and strategic priorities.
• Ensure that all external projects, campaigns, and partnerships are delivered on time, within budget, and to the highest standard of quality and alignment with the mission.

Mobilization & Movement Building 

• Develop and execute comprehensive strategies to build, connect, and sustain a robust network of mental health champions.
• Design and implement external mobilization campaigns that engage youth and young adults to drive change within their peer groups, institutions, and communities.
• Forge robust partnerships with diverse youth-led organizations and coalitions to amplify collective impact and shared advocacy goals.
• Partner with diverse community organizations and advocacy leaders to expand reach and deepen impact among prioritized populations.
• Create external pathways and platforms for youth and young adults to voice their needs, inform solutions, and lead change initiatives.
• Establish and cultivate strategic partnerships with policymakers and government officials to drive systemic change.
• Collaborate with the Director of Policy to monitor legislative and regulatory developments and execute advocacy strategies that leverage the power of youth voices to influence policy decisions.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Active Minds recognizes that not every candidate will possess all the skills, knowledge, and experiences listed below and welcomes candidates with a diverse range of experiences.

• 15+ years of progressive leadership experience in marketing, communications, public affairs, advocacy, and movement building, ideally within the nonprofit sector.
• Proven track record as an entrepreneurial leader who brings a record of success in creatively solving complex problems and driving innovation. 
• Proven ability to lead and manage teams, fostering collaboration, inclusivity, and transparency, with experience guiding multidisciplinary teams through periods of transformation and change.
• Demonstrated success in building and leading successful movements, campaigns, or large-scale mobilization efforts.
• Deep understanding of youth and young adult development, engagement strategies, and the power of peer influence.
• Experience in reaching and resonating with diverse audiences, particularly BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities, with an equity lens.
• Deep understanding and application of data and analytics in developing and measuring marketing strategy and tactics.
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills with the ability to inspire and build relationships with diverse audiences and stakeholders.
• Experience with multi-channel communications strategies, including digital, traditional media, crisis communications, and issues management.
• Deep understanding of mental health advocacy is highly valued.
• Experience leading remote, hybrid, and geographically dispersed teams.
• Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree in a relevant field preferred.

OUR CULTURE 

Active Minds is a place where every employee matters. We value diverse perspectives, radical authenticity, and a community-driven approach. We dream big, offering flexibility to staff while we work to achieve our mission. As such, we are proud to offer competitive salaries and benefits, along with an environment that is friendly to remote working and life-work balance. 

Active Minds is an equal opportunity employer dedicated to advancing racial equity and social justice in an increasingly multicultural and globally connected world. We value diverse experiences, including with regard to educational background, intersectional identities, and lived experiences. We make a particular effort to recruit individuals from underrepresented groups, including people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, and those with other marginalized identities. Active Minds encourages all to apply for our open positions as we depend on a diverse staff to carry out our mission. 

COMPENSATION 

The starting salary range for this position is $140,000 - $175,000, accompanied by a competitive benefits package. The starting pay for this position is equal to others at the same level throughout the organization. Candidates whose experience meets both the minimum and preferred qualifications may be considered for a starting salary that exceeds the current amount. The role sits within the Active Minds Level 8 salary band and has the potential to grow to $210,000 over time. FLSA Status: Exempt.  

Active Minds has an industry-leading and competitive benefits package that includes Health, Vision, and Dental Insurance, Paid Vacation and Sick Leave, Paid Holidays, Company-Wide Mental Health Days, 401(k) Matching, HSA and FSA Options, Life Insurance, Short Term and Long Term Disability, Fully Paid Parental Leave, Wellness Reimbursement Program, and Professional Development Stipends. 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This is a hybrid/remote position, with the option to work from Active Minds’ Washington, DC office. For leaders in the Washington, DC area, our current expectation is two days of in-office time per week on Tuesdays and Wednesdays; however, this requirement is subject to change over time. The role may involve occasional travel and evening and weekend availability to support special events and external engagements. 

TO APPLY

Active Minds has retained the executive search firm LeaderFit to lead this search. Interested candidates should upload a brief cover letter and resume. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

Active Minds recruits, hires, trains, compensates, and promotes our staff regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, disability, age, veteran status, and other protected status as required by applicable law. 

At LeaderFit, all candidate materials are reviewed by experienced humans—never by AI. We believe that evaluating leadership potential, lived experience, and alignment with mission and culture requires human judgment, insight, and care. We leverage AI in other ways to ensure efficiency, optimized research, and allowing LeaderFit staff to focus on what humans do best, which is connecting, engaging, and building community.